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Tamlyn Tomita

Tamlyn Tomita

Actor · Born January 27, 1966 (60) · Okinawa, Japan

Tamlyn Naomi Tomita is an American actress. She made her screen debut as Kumiko in The Karate Kid Part II and reprised the character for the streaming series Cobra Kai. She is also well known for her role as Waverly in The Joy Luck Club.

Biography from TMDB.

Born
January 27, 1966 (60)
From
Okinawa, Japan
Works as
Actor
Titles
75 on MovieCove · 114 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 157 days to Oct 28Down 20% in 30 days

What are Tamlyn Tomita's films like?

Across their 23 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Self and Bonds.

Genres

Drama7 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 58th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Action6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 28th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Comedy2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 38th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Crime2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 35th percentile
: browse their Crime movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Self
27%
Bonds
22%
Society
20%
Morality
16%
Survival
13%
Power
1%
Ideas
1%
Identity8 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds7 titles, browse their movies with this themePrejudice5 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity4 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice3 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose4 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival4 titles, browse their movies with this themeGrief3 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 21 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Grounded: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their grounded movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 14 · Stylized 6 · Heightened 1

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 3 · Charged 11 · Intense 7

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 9 · Shifting 11 · Whiplash 1

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 13 · Some laughs 7 · Funny 1

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 6 · Even-paced 14 · Relentless 1

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 7 · Engaged 9 · Full focus 5

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

Easy watch 5 · Affecting 11 · Heavy 5

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 14 · Open-ended 6 · Ambiguous 1

Roles they play

8 analyzed roles

Usually the Ally: 5 of 8 analyzed roles.

Ally
5 of 8
Hero
2 of 8
Shadow
1 of 8
Show the 8 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
14
Melancholic
10
Hopeful
9
Contemplative
7
Dread
5
Other
21

How their films linger

Hopeful10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteCathartic4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 4 with a twist

  • Happy5
  • Bittersweet13
  • Ambiguous5

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Tamlyn Tomita's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 54 of their 75 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Prime Video (18).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Tamlyn Tomita's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

114 credits, 75 with a MovieCove page; 4 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Enough (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)

    as Janet

  • Star Wars: Maul - Shadow Lord(2026)

    Show 1 episode · as Drea Lawson (voice)

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all shows

  • Ultraman: Rising(2024)

    as Mina / Emiko Sato (voice)

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Dead Boy Detectives(2024)

    Show 1 episode · as The Principal

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all shows

  • Avatar: The Last Airbender(2024)

    Show 1 episode · as Yukari

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all shows

  • Monarch: Legacy of Monsters(2023)

    Show 3 episodes · as Caroline Randa · as Caroline Randa (voice)

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all shows

  • Blue Eye Samurai(2023)

    Show 2 episodes · as Lady Itoh (voice)

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all shows

  • Betrayed: Surviving an American Concentration Camp (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • The Right Mom(2021)

    as Sallie Petersen

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Etheria(2020)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 2nd percentile of all shows

  • Asian Americans(2020)

    Show 5 episodes · as Narrator (voice)

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all shows

  • I Will Make You Mine(2020)

    as Julia

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Star Trek: Picard(2020)

    Show 6 episodes · as Commodore Oh

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all shows

  • The Living Worst (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    as Chita Montague

  • Cobra Kai(2018)

    Show 2 episodes · as Kumiko

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • Counterpart (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    Show 1 episode · as Emily's Doctor

  • The Good Doctor(2017)

    Show 30 episodes · as Allegra Aoki

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • DuckTales(2017)

    Show 1 episode · as Inspector Tezuka (voice)

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • Real Artists (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    as Anne Palladon

  • Berlin Station(2016)

    Show 29 episodes · as Sandra Abe

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all shows

  • The Good Neighbor(2016)

    as Heather Cromwell

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • The Unbidden (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    as Lauren Lee

  • Chicago Med(2015)

    Show 6 episodes · as Celeste Frost

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all shows

  • Daddy(2015)

    as Sharlene Hong

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Zoo(2015)

    Show 1 episode · as Minako Oz

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all shows

  • Teacher of the Year(2014)

    as Vivian Lew

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • The Man in the High Castle(2015)

    Show 6 episodes · as Tamiko Watanabe

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows

  • Operation Marriage (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    as Lee

  • How to Get Away with Murder(2014)

    Show 2 episodes · as Carol Morrow

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all shows

  • Chasing Life(2014)

    Show 2 episodes · as Mae · as Molly

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all shows

  • Resurrection(2013)

    Show 5 episodes · as Dr. Toni Willis

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all shows

  • Awesome Asian Bad Guys(2014)

    as Tamlyn/Pamlyn

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Touch(2012)

    Show 1 episode · as Kazuko Osugi

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all shows

  • Teen Wolf(2011)

    Show 16 episodes · as Noshiko Yukimura

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all shows

  • The Chicago Code(2011)

    Show 1 episode · as Prosecutor

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all shows

  • Nómadas(2010)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all films

  • Law & Order: LA(2010)

    Show 10 episodes · as Miwako Nishizawa

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all shows

  • The Mikado Project (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    as Viola

  • Tekken(2010)

    as Jun Kazama

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • NCIS: Los Angeles(2009)

    Show 1 episode · as Homeland Security Agent Shana Rollins

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all shows

  • Make It or Break It(2009)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all shows

  • Glee(2009)

    Show 3 episodes · as Julia Chang

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all shows

  • Why Am I Doing This?(2009)

    as Donna

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • The Mentalist(2008)

    Show 1 episode · as Lauri Medina

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • True Blood(2008)

    Show 2 episodes · as Ms. Suzuki

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all shows

  • The Eye(2008)

    as Mrs. Cheung

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • Women's Murder Club (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Private Practice(2007)

    Show 1 episode · as Katie's Lawyer

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all shows

  • Saving Grace(2007)

    Show 1 episode · as Tori Chen

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all shows

  • Pandemic(2007)

    Show 2 episodes · as Melissa Lo

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all shows

  • Only the Brave(2006)

    as Mary Takata

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films

  • Twenty Good Years (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Heroes(2006)

    Show 3 episodes · as Ishi Nakamura

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all shows

  • Eureka(2006)

    Show 4 episodes · as Kim Anderson · as Kim Yamazaki

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Wendy... Uh... What's Her Name (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • Commander in Chief(2005)

    Show 1 episode · as Randy

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all shows

  • Criminal Minds(2005)

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. Linda Kimura

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows

  • Bones(2005)

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. Alice Crawford

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Gaijin 2: Love Me as I Am (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    as Maria Yamashita

  • Jane Doe: Now You See It, Now You Don't(2005)

    as Helen Morriston

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Stargate: Atlantis(2004)

    Show 2 episodes · as Shen Xiaoyi

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • The Day After Tomorrow(2004)

    as Janet Tokada

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Threat Matrix (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Show 1 episode · as Special Agent Nicole Hill

  • Robot Stories (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    as Marcia

  • CSI: Miami(2002)

    Show 1 episode · as Sarah Fordham

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all shows

  • For the People (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. Chaney

  • Monk(2002)

    Show 1 episode · as Eileen Hill

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • The Shield(2002)

    Show 1 episode · as Wanda Higoshi

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • 24(2001)

    Show 5 episodes · as Jenny Dodge

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all shows

  • The Agency (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 2 episodes · as Elizabeth - Female Kidnapper

  • Crossing Jordan(2001)

    Show 3 episodes · as Grace Yakura

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all shows

  • Walking Shadow (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Rikki Wu

  • The Michael Richards Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 1 episode · as Ming

  • Strong Medicine (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. Nash

  • Runaway Virus (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    as Monique Chao

  • The Last Man on Planet Earth(1999)

    as Agent Kara Hastings

    Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all films

  • Life Tastes Good(1999)

    as Julie

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • Providence (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Show 1 episode · as Mary Cassidy

  • Living Out Loud(1998)

    as Bob's Wife

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Seven Days (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Will & Grace(1998)

    Show 1 episode · as Naomi

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all shows

  • Hundred Percent (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as Thaise

  • Stargate SG-1(1997)

    Show 2 episodes · as Shen Xiaoyi

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • The Killing Jar (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    as Diane Sanford

  • Touch(1997)

    as Prosecutor

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • The Burning Zone (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 19 episodes · as Kimberly Shiroma

  • Nash Bridges(1996)

    Show 2 episodes · as Amy Chin

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all shows

  • The Sentinel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 1 episode · as Suzanne Tomaki

  • Four Rooms(1995)

    as Wife

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Requiem (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as Fong

  • JAG(1995)

    Show 6 episodes · as Tracy Manetti

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all shows

  • Picture Bride(1994)

    as Kana

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Vanishing Son IV (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    as Lanchi

  • Chicago Hope (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Show 1 episode · as Jennifer Watanabe · as Tina - Sutton's Ex #3

  • One West Waikiki (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Vanishing Son II (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    as Lanchi

  • Vanishing Son (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Show 3 episodes · as Lanchi

  • Babylon 5: The Gathering (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as Lt. Cmdr. Laurel Takashima

  • The Joy Luck Club(1993)

    as Waverly Jong

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • Time Trax (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Highlander(1992)

    Show 1 episode · as Midori Koto

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all shows

  • Raven (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Raven: Return of the Black Dragons(1992)

    as Kim Tanaka

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Come See the Paradise(1990)

    as Lily Kawamura

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Hiroshima: Out of the Ashes(1990)

    as Sally

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Vietnam, Texas(1990)

    as Lan

    Midcredits score: 5th percentile of all films

  • Quantum Leap(1989)

    Show 1 episode · as Tamlyn Matsuda

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all shows

  • To Heal a Nation(1988)

    as Maya Ying Lin

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Hiroshima Maiden (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    as Miyeko

  • Tour of Duty (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Show 1 episode · as VC Peasant Woman

  • Hawaiian Dream (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    as Karen Saito

  • The Karate Kid Part II(1986)

    as Kumiko

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Murder, She Wrote(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Det. Sharon Matsumoto

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all shows

  • The Joy Luck Club 2 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    as Waverly Jong

Career shape

Star power in the 97th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 114 titles, 113 of them dated from 1984 to 2026; peak year 1994.

Biggest box office

The Karate Kid Part II (1986)

$115M worldwide

Highest rated

The Joy Luck Club (1993)

Midcredits 95th

Most popular right now

Law & Order: LA (2010)

Film career

19842026

Peak 1994 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 2 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting114 of 114: 114 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score63rd

By decade

1980s7 · acting1990s31 · acting2000s36 · acting2010s26 · acting2020s13 · acting

Billing

usually 10th · top billed in 0% of 15 roles
8696

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Tamlyn Tomita's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 45th percentile, the median of all 27; across their 21 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 47th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

47thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 21

Approval · how many liked their films

46thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 21

Reach · how many have seen their films

42ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 21

Midcredits score across 75 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up30
  • 50th to 74th20
  • 25th to 49th18
  • Below 25th7

Shape of the crowd

32 of their 75 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved15
  • Universally Panned1
  • Divisive1
  • Cult Classic5
  • Crowd Pleaser32
  • Mixed21

Most divisive · actor

Why Am I Doing This? (2009)

96th percentile spread · 35% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

The Joy Luck Club (1993)

Midcredits 95th · 82% liked

Reviewers score the acting 66/100 in their films, across 18 reviewed titles; fans 77, detractors 40. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Tamlyn Tomita's work okay for kids?

Across up to 6 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore5 titles44–68 · median 55 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity6 titles11–48 · median 30 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity5 titles19–62 · median 36 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs5 titles22–56 · median 25 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense5 titles45–67 · median 59 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Tamlyn Tomita work with?

People who share at least 2 of Tamlyn Tomita's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa shares the most, 3.

Actors

Editors